Forto

Forto is a digitized freight forwarding and supply chain solutions provider that arranges international B2B cargo transport by sea, air and rail, alongside additional services such as customs clearance. Customers book, track and manage shipments through the company's proprietary "Ship by Forto" platform, which centralizes quoting and booking, documentation, invoicing, claims handling, milestone tracking and reporting. The platform emphasizes data quality, drawing milestone data from more than 100 logistics partners, and offers customizable notifications ("Advanced Notifications") intended to flag disruptions in real time. Integration is available through public APIs and standard EDI connections covering 30+ transport milestones.

The company pairs its software with human operations teams that are supported by AI tooling, including a proprietary AI transport management agent branded "Flash by Forto," and it markets an AI product line under the name FortoLabs. Sustainability services form a distinct part of the offering: emissions visibility with verified data, biofuel-based transport options for air and ocean freight, and an ocean plastic prevention program. At the time of its 2021 financing, Forto reported that more than half of its customers used its carbon-offsetting offer and that it doubled each customer's CO2 compensation under a "1+1 Approach."

Forto states it serves roughly 2,500 customers, covers more than 100 countries, and operated about 33,000 shipments on its platform in 2023, with 500+ employees and 14-15 offices across seven countries.

Founding story

The company was founded in 2016 under the name FreightHub. Co-founder and CEO Michael Wax had previously co-founded Konux, a sensor and analytics company, at age 23, and drew on Munich's startup ecosystem, mentorship and peer networks in moving from academia to entrepreneurship. Forto's early strategy targeted a niche segment, Amazon FBA importers, to validate the model before broadening, and it used customer feedback loops to shape the product.

Business model

Forto acts as a freight forwarder, contracting and coordinating international transport of customers' goods across ocean, air and rail modes while providing an accompanying digital platform for booking, visibility, documentation and reporting. Customers can book on pre-negotiated or spot rates and add optional services including customs handling and sustainable transport options.

Sources describe transport bookings on pre-negotiated rates or spot rates plus additional optional services (such as customs clearance, biofuel-based transport and offsetting), but do not otherwise detail pricing.

Traction

Approximately 2,500 customers, more than 100 countries covered, about 33,000 shipments operated on the platform in 2023, over 500 employees and 14-15 offices in seven countries. A customer story cites an 80% reduction in transport emissions for ocean transport using second-generation biofuels.

Latest developments

Forto is promoting FortoLabs, its AI solutions line for logistics, and "Flash by Forto," a proprietary AI transport management agent supporting its customer service teams. The company continues publishing market and capacity updates, including a Middle East situation update and a Logistics Pulse quarterly report for Q2 2026, and guidance comparing sea, rail and air freight from China to Europe.